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davidg 
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Joined: January-07-2008 Location: NW Chicagoland Status: Offline Points: 2239 |
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 Topic: Pertronix QuestionPosted: July-26-2015 at 12:13pm |
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I just put a Pertronix (basic) system in my truck (Ignitor and Flame Thrower Coil) in my '68 F250 w/390. It seems to run fine (except for a slight miss at idle and min. throttle roll on speed). I noticed on the instructions, Pertronix says you must have 12 volts at the + terminal on the coil. I only have ~6.5 volts. I have read in searches that Ford used a ballast resistor wire in their ignition systems to reduce the voltage to 6.5 volts for the points system..
Have any of you guys dealt with this Pertronix voltage issue? It seems to run fine with 6.5 (except for the irritating miss that was there with the points too). My goal is to solve this irritating miss at idle or slow cruise. When I get on it, it runs like a scalded pup. I also burned out a condenser recently, and that is why I am trying the Pertronix. The only thing I haven't tried is putting all new spark plugs in. I may have a bad one?? Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. |
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hdspringer99
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Joined: June-19-2014 Location: So. Illinois Status: Offline Points: 16 |
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Posted: July-26-2015 at 12:25pm |
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Bypass the ballast resistor or find a suitable 12V ignition source for the pickup. I had a similar issue and had to bypass the ballast resistor to get full voltage. The instructions should mention this, mine did.
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77 Ski Nautique
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: July-26-2015 at 12:38pm |
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Dave,
If a ballast resistor isn't obvious, then you are correct that the resistance come from a wire feeding the coil. Follow the wire from the coil back to where there's a connection. Disconnect one end and confirm the wire is resistor by Ohming it. Yes, condensers seem to not hold up lately. I only got 23 years out of the one on my Y block!  Good luck with the conversion. You may want to carry a spare with you! 
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davidg
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Joined: January-07-2008 Location: NW Chicagoland Status: Offline Points: 2239 |
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Posted: July-26-2015 at 2:49pm |
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Dennis.....Yes, the directions do say it should have a full 12 volts to the + on the coil. It just doesn't say how to do it. Its interesting that it seems to run fine, other than the annoying miss, which was there before.
By the way, based on your forum name, I see you have a '99 HD Springer (I have a keen sense of the obvious  ). Nice bike!! The guy I bought my '97 Heritage from bought a '98 Springer to replace the '97. The late 90's springers are gorgeous bikes!! I would love to have a white w/ red stripe '97 springer. They sure hold their value.Pete.....You only got 23 years out of a condenser!?! I would take it right back where you bought it from and DEMAND a new one !! I got 23 days from the first one, and put another one in, and had then started having the miss. issue. I got antsy to put a Pertronix in to see if that will solve it. I like your idea of following the wire back to see where it terminates. I do not see a ballast anywhere.. Do you know what ohms I should expect? |
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peter1234
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Joined: February-03-2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2756 |
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Posted: July-26-2015 at 4:16pm |
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do you think the skip could be in the idle circuit?
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former skylark owner now a formula but I cant let this place go
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: July-26-2015 at 4:23pm |
Dave, You should get a near zero Ohm reading if it's plan wire. Anything above that, it's resister wire. |
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davidg
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Joined: January-07-2008 Location: NW Chicagoland Status: Offline Points: 2239 |
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Posted: July-27-2015 at 2:16am |
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Guys....I appreciate the responses on this problem. It was virtually impossible to follow the ignition wire back into the cab, so I ended up finding a 12 volt wire coming off the ignition. I ran a jumper wire out to the coil so it had 12 volts. It now seems to run much better with no skip or miss.
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Hollywood
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Joined: February-04-2004 Location: Twin Lakes, WI Status: Offline Points: 13520 |
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Posted: July-27-2015 at 11:30am |
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I don't know why you wanted to change the plugs when the directions said to have 12 volts at the coil and you had 6.5
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davidg
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Joined: January-07-2008 Location: NW Chicagoland Status: Offline Points: 2239 |
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Posted: July-27-2015 at 4:59pm |
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I was bored! And, that pesky miss was going to go away one way or another.
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davidg wrote: